Environmental protection is critical to Genesis Energy’s success as a company. We track and maintain an awareness of applicable environmental laws and regulations. We further our efforts by routinely engaging with third-party organizations and applicable regulatory agencies to identify means by which we can mitigate our environmental footprint.
Jump to a Section
Emissions
Emissions from our operations vary by business segment. Our air emissions generally result from mining activities, crude oil storage tanks, marine vessels, combustion sources, and crude oil and natural gas transportation. Our air permitting and compliance program manages applicable regulated emissions using the various methods mentioned below:
- Maintaining a robust permitting and compliance program for operational activities
- Tracking permit requirements and deadlines in a compliance tracking system
- Calculating annual emissions as required by federal and state regulations
- Reviewing plans for modifications to facilities and operations to determine whether permitting is required
- Using control technology when feasible to reduce emissions
- Operating all of our marine vessel engines and generators to meet Tier 3 standards, using low sulfur diesel, which meets IMO 2020 standards
- Phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances from marine vessel A/C units
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Scope 1 and 2 emissions for our operations are shown in the table below. Calculations were performed in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Protocol by a third-party consultant. We intend to continue to track and analyze this data in the future. See our Performance Table to view our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
Energy Transition
We recognize that the energy transition is an important topic for our investors. We continue to look for ways to position ourselves to operate and participate in a lower carbon world.
Our offshore pipeline transportation segment has one of the largest pipeline networks in the Deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico, which are some of the least emission intensive barrels, from reservoir to refinery, of any barrel refined and consumed in the United States.
We expect our soda ash business to increase its participation in renewable energy markets in the future by producing a resource used in the production of LEED certified glass windows to retro-fit older buildings; manufacturing of glass for solar panels; and the production of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide (some of the building blocks of lithium ion/phosphate batteries used in both the electrification of vehicles and long-term battery storage).
Our Sulfur Services business continues to help its host refineries lower their emissions by processing hydrogen sulfide gas streams using our proprietary, closed-loop, non-combustion technology to remove sulfur from the refiner’s hydrogen sulfide gas stream. In addition, NaHS is used by our customers to help further reduce air emissions from various chemical and industrial activities. For example, NaHS is used to remove nitrogen oxide (NOx) from the emissions stacks of certain activities around metal refining and finishing.
NaHS and soda ash are also both used in flue gas scrubbing to remove harmful particulates from what would otherwise have been released into the atmosphere. This is especially used at large industrial complexes and hydrocarbon-fired power plants.
Biodiversity
We recognize the importance of fostering the conservation of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems and understand the need to use natural resources wisely. We operate in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and comply with guidelines provided by regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We review potential biodiversity impacts prior to construction and where possible we reduce the impacts of construction and operational activities through one or more of the following methods:
- Avoidance
- Minimization
- Restoration
- Offsetting
We work, in a cooperative manner, to mitigate the effects of our operations with local communities. Additionally, we train employees on the importance of environmental protection and provide information on species and habitat sensitivities present in their assigned locations or projects.
Protecting Sage Grouse
The natural habitat of certain animal and bird species exists in close proximity to our operations. We work to identify such habitats and to respect their coexistence with our operations as much as possible. For instance, our soda ash production facility in Southwest Wyoming is located in a sage grouse habitat area. The sage grouse is a bird that is currently designated as a “species of concern” with the potential of being added to the endangered species list under the Endangered Species Act. We carefully manage new projects to minimize impacts on their habitat and engage in efforts to protect the species.
We work closely with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and other state agencies to closely monitor sage grouse population numbers and with nearby landowners to help ensure the health of the bird’s habitat in the surrounding area. We are a founding member of the Wyoming Mining Natural Resource Foundation and serve on its board of directors. “The Foundation has developed an initial conservation strategy which is designed to engage landowners and land managers, agencies, academia and stakeholders to work together with the mining industry to implement durable conservation practices on the ground.”

Water
Water is a treasured resource and one that requires proper management. Certain laws and regulations concerning water use are applicable to our business segments. We maintain permits as applicable to our consumption and discharge of water. Additionally, we administer controls on regulated discharges to minimize the release of pollutants to waterways. Genesis Energy operates multiple zero discharge facilities (including our Sodium Minerals and Sulfur Services Division) where process water is recycled and reused on-site. Additionally, we use water for:
- Integrity testing of tanks and pipelines
- Steam generation for heating products
- Equipment cleaning
Spill Prevention and Response
As a transporter of hazardous materials, we believe spill prevention is not only critical to the long-term success of our business, but also also of primary importance to the communities in which we operate. We maintain a Spill Prevention and Response Program that begins with designing and operating all of our facilities with spill prevention in mind.
Key aspects of this program include:
- Installing leak detection and secondary containment systems at facilities and on pipelines, as required by applicable laws
- Monitoring our pipelines 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at our Operations Control Center
- Conducting pipeline and tank integrity testing in accordance with applicable laws and regulations
- Conducting inspections that include regular on-the-ground visual inspections and aerial surveys of pipeline right of ways in accordance with applicable laws and regulations
- Maintaining spill response plans for our facilities and assets
- Training our employees on spill response procedures
- Complying with the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program requirements for spill drills to help us prepare for a potential release
- Investigating the root cause of spills, as defined by internal procedures, and monitoring emerging trends
Additionally, we strive to build and strengthen the relationship between Genesis Energy operations personnel and local emergency responders. Genesis Energy personnel have hosted various meetings with local emergency responders to tour our assets, understand our emergency procedures, and ask questions of operations staff.
Our policies require that all spills relating to Genesis Energy operations are reported internally, regardless of size, and that spills meeting regulatory thresholds for reporting are reported to the appropriate government agencies. Genesis Energy’s spill performance data for the past three years, as outlined by the SASB standards, appears below. There were no spills that were material to our financial performance over this time period.
20181 | 2019 | 20203 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total Number of Spills or Releases Greater than 1 bbl2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Total Volume of Spills or Releases Greater than 1 bbl | 0 | 0 | 49.2 | 0 |
Total Volume of Spills or Releases Greater than 1 bbl in Unusually Sensitive Areas (bbls) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total Volume of Spills or Releases Greater than 1 bbl Recovered (bbls) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1 Does not include 3,458 barrels released caused by third-party damage.
2 Not in impermeable secondary containment.
3 All spills and volumes released in 2020 caused by Hurricane Delta.
Note: The data appearing above is an approximation and is expected to fluctuate and change year over year. It should not be interpreted as being indicative of trends or guarantees of future results. Genesis Energy expressly disclaims any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of such data. The data may be modified, updated, changed, deleted, or supplemented from time to time without notice.
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total Number of Spills or Releases Greater than 1 bbl1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
Total Volume of Spills or Releases Greater than 1 bbl | 106.9 | 9.2 | 6.5 | 5 |
Total Volume of Spills or Releases Greater than 1 bbl in Unusually Sensitive Areas (bbls) | 0 | 2.6 | 1 | 0 |
Total Volume of Spills or Releases Greater than 1 bbl Recovered (bbls) | 106.9 | 6.2 | 6 | 5 |
1 Not in impermeable secondary containment.
Note: The data appearing above is an approximation and is expected to fluctuate and change year over year. It should not be interpreted as being indicative of trends or guarantees of future results. Genesis Energy expressly disclaims any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of such data. The data may be modified, updated, changed, deleted, or supplemented from time to time without notice.
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Hydrocarbon Spills and Releases to the Environment1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
Aggregated Volume (bbls) of Hydrocarbon Spills and Releases to the Environment | 1.5 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 1.5 |
1 All less than 24 nautical miles to shore.
Note: The data appearing above is an approximation and is expected to fluctuate and change year over year. It should not be interpreted as being indicative of trends or guarantees of future results. Genesis Energy expressly disclaims any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of such data. The data may be modified, updated, changed, deleted, or supplemented from time to time without notice.
Sustainability Questions
Have questions? Please contact our Investor Relations department directly.
